Lake Turkana | तुर्काना झील
Why in News?
Research into East Africa's Rift Valley has examined how long-term changes in water levels of lakes such as Lake Turkana can influence pressure on the Earth's crust and interact with tectonic and volcanic processes.
Location
Lake Turkana is located primarily in northern Kenya, with its northern extremity extending into Ethiopia. It is therefore an East African, not West African, lake.
Former Name
Lake Turkana was formerly known as Lake Rudolf.
Great Rift Valley
The lake lies within the eastern branch of the East African Rift system, one of the world's major active continental rift zones.
World's Largest Permanent Desert Lake
Lake Turkana is widely recognised as the world's largest permanent desert lake. It is approximately 250 kilometres long and covers more than 6,000 square kilometres, though its exact area varies with water level.
Major Inflowing Rivers
The major rivers feeding the lake include the Omo, Turkwel and Kerio rivers. The Omo River, which flows southward from Ethiopia, provides the overwhelming majority of the lake's freshwater inflow.
No Surface Outlet
Lake Turkana is an endorheic lake, meaning it has no surface outlet to the sea. Water is primarily lost through evaporation.
Salinity
The lake contains alkaline and relatively saline water compared with most freshwater lakes. Evaporation and the absence of an outlet contribute to the concentration of dissolved salts.
Climate
The region is extremely hot, dry and windy. Sudden storms can make navigation dangerous.
Biodiversity
The lake and surrounding landscapes support important populations of fish, crocodiles, birds and other wildlife. Its islands and shores also preserve internationally important fossil and archaeological sites associated with human evolution.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Lake Turkana National Parks property is recognised by UNESCO for its outstanding natural and scientific significance.
Important Dates
- 1888: European explorers named the lake Lake Rudolf.
- 1975: Kenya officially adopted the name Lake Turkana.
- 1997: Lake Turkana National Parks were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- 2001: The UNESCO property was extended to include additional protected areas.
Lake Turkana | तुर्काना झील – हिंदी में विस्तृत विवरण
स्थान
Lake Turkana मुख्य रूप से northern Kenya में स्थित है और इसका northern tip Ethiopia तक फैला हुआ है। यह East Africa में स्थित है, West Africa में नहीं।
पूर्व नाम
इसे पहले Lake Rudolf कहा जाता था।
Rift Valley
यह East African Rift system के eastern branch में स्थित है। यह क्षेत्र tectonic और volcanic activity के लिए प्रसिद्ध है।
विश्व की सबसे बड़ी स्थायी मरुस्थलीय झील
Lake Turkana को world की largest permanent desert lake माना जाता है। इसका area 6,000 sq km से अधिक है और length लगभग 250 km है।
प्रमुख नदियाँ
Omo, Turkwel और Kerio इसकी प्रमुख inflowing rivers हैं। Omo River झील के freshwater inflow का बहुत बड़ा हिस्सा प्रदान करती है।
Endorheic Lake
Lake Turkana का कोई surface outlet नहीं है। पानी मुख्य रूप से evaporation से निकलता है, इसलिए dissolved salts की concentration अधिक हो सकती है।
UNESCO
Lake Turkana National Parks अपनी biodiversity, geology, fossil record और evolutionary significance के कारण UNESCO World Heritage property हैं।
महत्वपूर्ण तिथियाँ
- 1888: Lake Rudolf नाम दिया गया।
- 1975: Kenya ने आधिकारिक रूप से Lake Turkana नाम अपनाया।
- 1997: UNESCO World Heritage List में inscription।
- 2001: World Heritage property का विस्तार।